Author: Sterling Hawkins
You can turn an unpredictable world into predictable results. It comes down to the practices we have in our businesses and with those around us. Even though we might not be able to predict the exact timing of a breakthrough, the practices create the conditions necessary to have a breakthrough, even making that breakthrough inevitable […]
You can turn an unpredictable world into predictable results. It comes down to the practices we have in our businesses and with those around us. Even though we might not be able to predict the exact timing of a breakthrough, the practices create the conditions necessary to have a breakthrough, even making that breakthrough inevitable over time.
Seal Island, South Africa. One of the most renowned places in the world to see sharks.
We’ve been out on the ocean for over 4 hours before this photo was taken. And it’s only about 8am so it was an early morning (or maybe a late night depending on how you think about it). The ocean was empty. No other divers. No other boats except for a small local fishing boat. No sharks either. No big fish. Nothing but thousands of penguins on a little island and all the smells that went with them.
There are all sorts of waivers you sign prior. Not just signing away your safety, but also agreeing that if you don’t see sharks you don’t get a refund. And I’ve just about given up. We agree to give it about 10 more minutes so I sit on the side of the boat with my feet in the water inside the cage.
We’ve all been here in business or life, haven’t we? A little bit resigned that this is just the way it is and there’s not much to do about it.
Then there’s screaming. About 18 inches (yes inches) to my left a 14′ shark has leaped out of the water and was hanging from a rope that used to hold the bait. I freeze. Literally could not move. As the screaming comes into focus, they’re yelling at me to get in the water. I later learned where I am on the edge is more dangerous right now than inside the cage. At the time though, I was thinking: “are these people crazy?! This can’t be the best time to get into the water”.
Seconds later I trusted them enough to jump in… once under water the shark came down and when I looked into it’s big black eyes a total peace and calm came over me. And fear was gone. It seems like that’s always how it is: endless waiting for the right moment. Fear as it becomes a reality. And suddenly a new normal.
The unpredictability of those moments is the interesting part. Nobody could have guaranteed sharks. Nobody can predict the future. 2020 has been a masterclass lesson on that.
We’re not powerless though. What we can do is build predictability into the unpredictability by focusing on our cultural practices. In shark diving it was knowing where to be and when. It was using a certain kind of bait and moving it in a specific way. The crew knew they had created the conditions of success and that’s why they stayed at the ready even though we had given up. They knew success could happen in any moment and they’d be immediately ready to respond.
In business, it’s things like what do we do with failure? Do people provide real feedback? Even how people interact in meetings. When effective practices are in place, it creates the conditions for breakthrough results regardless of the circumstances. And it can happen even when you least expect it.
What are your practices? As an individual or as a company? When those practices create the environment to yield success, it’s only a matter of time.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
If you’re struggling to Become A Better Presenter, or are new to the field, here are some ideas that I’ve incorporated in my 28 years as a keynote speaker/presenter. Feel free to check them out and see if any can help you along the way! 1) Know your audience better than they know themselves […]
The Essence of Business is People , each and every business needs people to service and most of them are geared towards offering a product and or service to people. So therefore the foundation of any great business lies in the People Engagement and Growth strategy. There is an illusion that technology and apps will […]
THE STRUGGLE OF ALL SALESPEOPLE, UNDERSTANDING THE MONEY VALUE Here’s what you should know about salespeople, and really people in general. They don’t struggle with time management, they struggle with self-management. You can’t manage time, time ticks whether we want to or not. Here’s why we struggle with self-management In the absence of a clearly […]
A study of 70 top European Organisations shows that that the 10th reason they Choose One Pitch Over Another is the paper proposal. That’s not to say the paper proposal is not important but most people are neglecting the #1 reason. I share it at the biggest sales conference in Europe. “I’m not sure our […]
Care About and Challenge Each Other – The Two Keys to Team Performance I’ve been a part of lots of teams, in sports and business, and over the past 20 years I’ve had a chance to work with many high-performing teams, at companies like Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Schwab, eBay, and others. I’ve also studied […]
The global market economy is facing a tough time, with billions of dollars lost this week alone — and the local market is following suit with wisdom all around us The outlook is negative and some economies are preparing for another crisis. This does not provide an inspiring environment for someone looking to start or […]
Rebel technologists thrive when a couple of key environmental factors are in place The first thing is budget. Making sure that you can find the necessary budget to be able to instil these changes is an ideal starting point. If you aren’t working towards some kind of return on investment, somewhere along the line, why should […]
In organizational culture, there are two types of people: those who look for reasons to be offended, and those who look for ways to understand others. The former type tends to lash out at coworkers, saying cruel things in private or criticizing them in public. They seek revenge on their managers if they feel they […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
